Schertz officer shoots alleged thief

SAN ANTONIO — An off-duty Schertz police officer shot a man in the arm Saturday evening while confronting him in the parking lot of a Converse Wal-Mart about a shoplifting allegation.

The alleged thief, 25, has not yet been identified. The injury was not life threatening, authorities said.

Converse Police Department Assistant Chief Rex Rheiner said Schertz Police Cpl. Will Sutton and Converse Police Cpl. Mike Scogins were working in uniform as security guards at the business.

At about 7:30 p.m., Wal-Mart loss prevention staff gave the officers a description of a man suspected of stealing. Scogins saw the man walking through the parking lot and approached him as he entered his car, leaving his door open, authorities said.

Sutton stood next to Scogins as he questioned the man.

When a loss prevention worker indicated a desire to press charges for the alleged theft, the man quickly reversed his car to flee the scene, Rheiner said. Both officers were struck by the door and dragged a short distance before being thrown to the pavement, he said.

Sutton fired one shot but the vehicle did not stop, according to authorities.

Both officers were taken to an area hospital with minor injuries.

At about 9 p.m., dispatchers received a 911 call from a man seeking treatment for a gunshot wound, Rheiner said. The man was treated and arrested for aggravated assault of a police officer.

The incident was the second officer-involved shooting in the greater San Antonio area Saturday night.

A San Antonio police officer shot a man at a Northwest Side convenience store about an hour earlier, after the suspect pointed a gun at police, Chief William McManus said.